Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Washington, DC
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $80,300 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,464 take-home, or $5,122 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,836
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,979
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,164
- District of Columbia income tax$3,857
- Take-home pay$61,464
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,290 | $27.54 | $45,935 | $3,828 |
| 25th percentile | $65,050 | $31.27 | $51,666 | $4,305 |
| Median (50th) | $80,300 | $38.61 | $61,464 | $5,122 |
| 75th percentile | $102,320 | $49.19 | $75,083 | $6,257 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,160 | $56.33 | $84,262 | $7,022 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,300 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $61,464 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,449 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #49 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 49 | Washington, DC | $80,300 | $61,464 | $56,449 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Washington, DC?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $80,300 a year, or about $38.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,050 and $102,320.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $80,300 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $61,464 a year ($5,122 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,857 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,449 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #49 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $135,670
- Instructional Coordinator — $105,220
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $99,240
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $97,920
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $95,480
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $85,000
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,880
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $79,470
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,350
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $77,200
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $77,050
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $59,760